With the election of Reform UK’s first regional mayors, renewable projects are facing greater scrutiny than ever.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns (Greater Lincolnshire) has been very vocal about “Net Zero madness”, pledging to “stop policies that destroy jobs” and protect agricultural land.
Former Olympic boxer Luke Campbell (Hull & East Yorkshire) has stated he is “all for” Net Zero by 2050 if it creates jobs, while adding that he did not think it was “achievable”.
Both mayors represent regions rich with energy generation potential, with many projects currently being promoted, from offshore wind and carbon capture to battery storage and solar.
So, just where does Reform’s rise leave the renewable industry in these areas?
Firstly, neither mayor holds planning responsibilities. These remain with the local planning authorities, or the Secretary of State, depending on the consenting regime.
But like local MPs, the mayors’ power is held in the ability to influence public opinion and frustrate or promote the process. Andrea Jenkyns has already spoken at the Springwell Solar Farm examination hearing and it’s likely this won’t be the first solar farm she will actively oppose.
Developers will need to prepare for this attention and put a plan in place for communications. This strategy should include a proactive rebuttal strategy across the press and social media to counter false claims and ensure the developer’s voice is not lost.
Secondly, mayors will be central to the region’s brand. We’ve seen this in other areas of the UK such as Greater Manchester and West Midlands.
How will Luke Campbell and Andrea Jenkyns sell their areas and which businesses will they seek out?
With the tough economic climate, developers should be highlighting the commitment and investment it will be making into the regions, through jobs, skills and business rates. Position yourself as critical to the region’s success story.
Thirdly, politics is about personalities. It’s advisable that companies should get in front of their Mayor. Away from the campaigning, politicians are usually very reasonable and can provide useful feedback which can improve the design of a project.
They want to understand and ask questions in a non-public format. And this gives developers the opportunity to present their narrative less about meeting Net Zero targets and more about protecting jobs in the regions.
And finally, now is the time to test and refine your project’s messaging. The results of the local and mayoral elections have showed there isn’t a consensus on Net Zero, therefore messaging focused solely on this may no longer be the most effective for some groups.
Developers should understand the results on their areas and consider highlighting messaging which will have greater cut through in the current environment.
If there is one thing developers crave, its certainty. The devolution election results may have shaken the renewable industry’s confidence but with a strong communications strategy, it should be business-as-usual for projects.
